Indian Railways is moving ahead with the rollout of Vande Bharat sleeper trains, with two more sleeper rakes likely to be ready by next month. The development has generated optimism among railway passengers in Odisha, where long-distance travellers are keenly awaiting the introduction of the premium overnight service.
The sleeper version of the Vande Bharat trains is being developed by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) in coordination with the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai. Initially, 10 sleeper rakes were planned for delivery, though the timeline may be extended as the trains undergo mandatory trials, testing, and safety approvals before entering passenger service.
Reports indicate that the third and fourth sleeper rakes may be delivered before the end of March, while the rest of the first batch could roll out gradually in the coming months. Authorities are also considering a revised target around August to complete the initial production phase.
Meanwhile, the Railway Ministry has outlined an ambitious long-term plan to manufacture 260 additional Vande Bharat sleeper rakes. As several states seek allocation of these modern trains, Odisha is also hopeful of being included in future phases, especially given the growing demand on long-distance routes such as Bhubaneswar–Delhi and Puri–Mumbai.
Although there is no official confirmation yet about Odisha receiving a sleeper Vande Bharat, the expansion of production has raised expectations among passengers that the state may soon be connected by the next generation of overnight trains.
